The Toronto Maple Leafs have picked Cooper Williams with the 158th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. Williams is a 6’1″ 163lb left-shot forward out of the Saskatoon Blades. He was ranked as high as 31st by Craig Button. The Leafs are getting very solid value with this selection.
Cooper Williams player profile
Williams put up back-to-back 57-point seasons for the Blades, and put up one goal in three games for Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 68 | 21 | 36 | 57 |
| 2024–25 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 66 | 23 | 34 | 57 |
Analyzing the pick
Williams is a fantastic pick for the Leafs in this slot. He was projected to go a lot earlier and for good reason. He’s a reliable two-way player who is extremely impactful on each shift, and is a big reason why the Blades were a good team this season. He’s always pushing play in the right direction, solid in the faceoff circle, and displays very soft hands that can make a big impact offensively as well.
The Leafs will be very happy with this pick.
What’s next for Cooper Williams
Williams is committed to attend the powerhouse University of North Dakota alongside fellow Leafs draft pick from today, Ethan MacKenzie. He’ll likely play a few years in college before making the jump to professional hocky.
He might be a few years away, but Williams could be the Leafs best pick of the 2026 draft.
